Obama feet on desk photo

[AustinDawg]

[Guisslapp]

Looks photoshopped to me. His feet look too small and far away.

Not to me, my former boss had a desk just like that flown over from England and they are pretty big.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Looks photoshopped to me. His feet look too small and far away.

Not to me, my former boss had a desk just like that flown over from England and they are pretty big.

Your boss had small feet too.

[mildawg]

I've definitely seen this photo before. The last president we've had that REALLY respected the Oval Office was the elder Bush. He would not even enter through the doors without a tie and jacket, even on weekends. Can't say whether he would have kicked his feet up on the desk, but I highly doubt it. Oh, and I dang sure wouldn't want to picture he and his 1st Lady soiling that desk. Eww.

[inudesu]

The last president we've had that REALLY respected the Oval Office was the elder Bush. He would not even enter through the doors without a tie and jacket, even on weekends.

Right. Cause a working office is soooo sacred that you really need to have a piece of cloth tied around your neck and dangling down to show it the honor and respect it "deserves."

[JuBru]

Looks photoshopped to me. His feet look too small and far away.

Very unlikely. Everything looks just right.

[marketdawg]

If you use a smaller desk and keep the plants trimmed around your desk it makes your feet look WAY BIGGER!:icon_wink:

[mildawg]

Right. Cause a working office is soooo sacred that you really need to have a piece of cloth tied around your neck and dangling down to show it the honor and respect it "deserves."

Well, actually it speaks to his respect of the historic value of the office and the men who occupied it before him. Maybe you like wearing a polo with a nametag. That's fine. There is something to be said about being the President of the United States. Respect for the office, whatever form it takes, is an important quality.

Glad you find the man's respect for the office to be funny.

[hoppinmad]

This photo looks like there may be a 3/16" sheet of glass on it.

[inudesu]

Well, actually it speaks to his respect of the historic value of the office and the men who occupied it before him. Maybe you like wearing a polo with a nametag. That's fine. There is something to be said about being the President of the United States. Respect for the office, whatever form it takes, is an important quality.

Glad you find the man's respect for the office to be funny.

I find neckties funny. I also find equating neckties with respect funny, although I realize that in our culture, unfortunately they are a signifier of respect sometimes.

On the other hand, Bush the elder was showing respect in the way that his generation showed respect. That's great. But just because someone else doesn't always wear a tie in the office doesn't mean they don't respect it or the people who held it before them. Bush Sr. didn't wear a hat around - like a certain generation of presidents would have. Nor did he wear a powdered wig, like another. In the same token, the Presidents since him have not always felt the need to wear a jacket and tie.

[hoppinmad]

Now that I think about it, I'm glad the Clintons decided to leave the desk behind.

[mildawg]

I find neckties funny. I also find equating neckties with respect funny, although I realize that in our culture, unfortunately they are a signifier of respect sometimes.

On the other hand, Bush the elder was showing respect in the way that his generation showed respect. That's great. But just because someone else doesn't always wear a tie in the office doesn't mean they don't respect it or the people who held it before them. Bush Sr. didn't wear a hat around - like a certain generation of presidents would have. Nor did he wear a powdered wig, like another. In the same token, the Presidents since him have not always felt the need to wear a jacket and tie.

Wearing gym shorts, jogging suits, kicking one's feet up on the desk, and getting BJs from interns is not showing respect to the office, and that transcends generational lines. Dress and conduct are two of the MOST significant ways in which we show our respect; always have been and always will be. You can argue that Obama, W, and Clinton all respected the office too, but photos of feet on the desk and a blue dress say differently.

And if you think kicking one's feet up on the desk or getting a BJ aren't signs of disrespect, try doing both or either next time you're in court, church, etc. Neither make you a bad person, but you wouldn't do them out of respect for the court, church, other people, etc. Doing either, however, are signs of disrespect for the place you are and the people around you... especially in the Oval Office.

And, btw, we're focusing on the dress code here, which was not my point. I think Bush, Sr. is just the last president to TRULY respect the physical environs in the White House. Doesn't mean that any of his successors were or are any less presidential, but none have shown through their conduct and/or dress that they measure up.

[Dirtydawg]

Should won wear a coat and tie when visiting historical landmarks, particularly homes or meeting houses, where our founding fathers and other important historical figures conducted the affairs of our country in its early years?

[inudesu]

And, btw, we're focusing on the dress code here, which was not my point. I think Bush, Sr. is just the last president to TRULY respect the physical environs in the White House. Doesn't mean that any of his successors were or are any less presidential, but none have shown through their conduct and/or dress that they measure up.

Should won wear a coat and tie when visiting historical landmarks, particularly homes or meeting houses, where our founding fathers and other important historical figures conducted the affairs of our country in its early years?

This is the other part of the puzzle. We're talking about an office. It's a very important office and very important people did very important things there. But I promise you that the desk does not know what is being worn by the person sitting behind it (or even what is being done on top of it).

If I worked at home, I'd probably occasionally do business in my pajamas. Especially if my line of work required late hours or getting me up out of bed in the middle of the night.

I've worn shorts in church buildings before. Ever been a church that had a gym? Heck, I've even used the bathroom at church. I don't think that was being disrespectful. The Oval Office isn't a sanctuary, it's an office. A working office.

[mildawg]

Should won wear a coat and tie when visiting historical landmarks, particularly homes or meeting houses, where our founding fathers and other important historical figures conducted the affairs of our country in its early years?

Nope. But they are tourists and aren't going to work, either.

If dressing in suits and ties for work was so irrelevant, why is it accepted as business attire in most of the world? I understand it doesn't make one work any harder or better, but it is the physical manifestation of one's professionalism and respect for the work environment.

I don't think that it necessarily makes one more professional or respectful, as those are proven through one's actions. I am pretty sure that Bush, Sr. would never have done the things previously addressed in this thread, to include propping his feet on the Resolute Desk.